As mandated by the interim final rule, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will fully transition to issuing all refunds electronically via ACH transfer starting February 6, 2026. Paper checks will only be issued in rare cases where a waiver under 31 CFR 208.4 applies. This change aligns with federal initiatives to modernize payment processes, enhance security, and reduce fraud associated with mailed checks.
What You Need to Know
-
Current ACH Direct Duty Payment Program Participants
Importers enrolled in CBP’s ACH Debit or Credit program must take action establish an ACH Refund Account.
-
Current ACH Refund Program Participants
Importers already enrolled in CBP’s ACH Refund program do not need to take any action. However, they are encouraged to confirm their contact and banking information is current in the ACE Portal.
-
Importers Not Yet Enrolled
To receive refunds electronically, you must:
– Access your ACE Portal Importer Account (create one here if you do not already have one).
– Complete the ACH Refund Application in the ACE Portal under the “ACH Refund Authorization” tab and provide your U.S. bank account information or
– Assign a 3rd Party with an established ACH Refund account to receive the refund on your behalf (CF4811 procedure.) To explore this option with CH Powell as your recipient, please email: ace-achrefund@chpowell.com
If you do not have an ACE Portal account or have not submitted banking authorization and account details, refunds will not be issued immediately. A manual recovery process will be required, and no interest will be paid on delayed refunds.
Ensure your ACH banking information is submitted and approved in ACE before February 6, 2026, to avoid delays in receiving refunds.
Resources
- ACH Refund Fact Sheet here.
- ACH Refund Process here.
- Automated ACE Portal Account Application Information here.
- ACE Portal Importer Automated Application here.
- ACE Portal Account Action Flow Chart here.
CBP Trade Support Calls
CBP will host informational calls for importers:
January 28, 2026
February 11, 2026
For details and registration click here.
Waiver Requests
If you believe you qualify for a waiver to receive a paper check, notify CBP’s Revenue Division in writing at: frn-achrefundsupport@cbp.dhs.gov
For questions or assistance, contact your CH Powell Company representative.
This information is provided for general informational purposes only and without warranty. While care has been taken to ensure accuracy, reliance on this content is at the reader’s discretion and without recourse to CH Powell Company.